A message to anyone grieving

Advice and Information – 25 July 2019

We all grieve differently." That's the message Young Minds want to give to any young person who has experienced a bereavement or loss in their life.

What is grief?

It can be extremely difficult when you lose someone you knew. Whether you’ve lost a family member, a friend or a pet, you may feel a whole range of emotions. Grief is an emotional response to this loss, and is a process rather than an event. It may affect how you feel physically, mentally and socially.

You might be grieving because of:

The death of a family member, like a parent, grandparent or sibling

The death of a friend, or someone you knew at school

The death of someone by suicide

A change in a relationship

An illness of someone close to you, like cancer or dementia

The loss of a relationship, like someone moving away or no longer being in your life regularly

The loss or death of a pet animal

Whoever you have lost, you need time and space to grieve and come to terms with their death.

You might feel:

Shock

Panic

Sadness or depression

Anger

Fearful or anxious

Guilt

Relief

Numbness, or nothing

Concerned with your health or other people’s

Abandoned

When you lose someone close to you, it’s natural to feel sad, depressed, worried or angry.

There's no right or wrong way to grieve, and your feelings are valid.

If you, or a young person you know is finding it hard to cope with grief. Young Minds have gathered stories, experiences and advice on where to get support. Together they want others to know, you are not alone.